Malaspina expedition papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 2814

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection of documents covers the years 1789 to 1792, apart from one document dated 1795, and relates to the American part of the voyage as far as California.

The collection provides much detailed information on the diverse scientific activities of the Malaspina expedition. A major objective was to chart geographical areas considered to be of importance but not properly surveyed, such as the Straits of Magellan (see document 25). There are also several references to the necessity of verifying the existence of the supposed Maldonado Strait, or northwest passage linking the Pacific to the Atlantic, which was proved by the expedition to be a chimera (see documents 2, 178, 183, 197, 222, 224).

There is documentation of inland exploration, for example in Ecuador (document 177), Argentina (document 166), and Mexico (document 208). The inland explorations were wide-ranging. The most copiously documented here are the activities of the naturalists Pineda, Haencke and Née, who studied and collected a wide variety of birds, fishes, animals, minerals, plants and seeds. These were placed in boxes and sent to Spain accompanied by lists to identify each item (see document 30). Mines were visited and fishing methods were tested (see document 62). Another aspect of this work was the study of the indigenous tribes (see document 166).

There is also information concerning the proposed establishment of an ambitious network of scientific stations throughout the Spanish Empire. Its purpose was to compile an "American Meteorological Journal" covering a wide range of scientific statistics, not only relating to meteorological conditions but also to mortality rates and outbreaks of disease in humans and domestic animals (see documents 4 and 67).

Workings of the government in Spain and the colonies are revealed in these papers. There is evidence of occasional bureaucratic muddle: for example, mining instruments intended for Andalucia are sent to Mexico (see documents 34 and 35). Such documents provide an insight into the complex and hierarchical nature of the Empire's bureaucracy.

There are important references to instruments used and their makers, notably Dollond, la Lande and Arnold (see documents 19, 45 and 50), with details of scientific instruments required (see document 67). There is also mention of the writings which assisted the scientists' studies, such as the French Natural History Encyclopaedia by Valmont de Bomare (see document 51) or the account of Villarino's voyages kept in the library at Buenos Aires (see document 3).

Special note can be made of two of the longer documents. The first relates to California and is a copy of an exchange of correspondence between Malaspina and Bustamante and Friar Lasuén who was Junipero Serra's deputy (see document 211). It provides information on the first Christian settlements in California and the conversion and civilization of these "Naciones Bárbaras." Apart from comments relating to daily life at the mission the letters describe assistance given to the naturalists by the friars, neophytes and Indians. The second is a dramatic account of the exploration to the high peaks of Chimborazo by Pineda and Née, in almost impossible conditions, which describes volcanic eruptions and the discovery of gigantic pre-historic bones (see document 177).

A large group of the documents relate specifically to the administration and organization of the expedition. These include: orders and changes of instructions (e.g. documents 178 and 190); covering letters (e.g. document 10); statements and accounts (e.g. document 84); permits from foreign governments (e.g. document 21); documents concerning problems such as infestation of bread (e.g. document 16) and deserters and discipline (e.g. documents 58 and 201). All give an insight into the practical problems of organizing an expedition on this scale.

There are in all 240 documents including two maps. Most were sent to or from the office of the Naval Minister, Antonio Valdés. Some are documents or copies of documents sent to him, others are drafts of letters sent by him or his secretary. Nine bear his signature; some of the letters sent to him are receipted by him. There are five documents by Malaspina covering a variety of administrative matters but including an important extract of a letter emphasizing the aims of the expedition and the peaceful means by which these should be achieved (document 25).

The authors and intended recipients of these letters range from high-ranking ministers such as the Conde de Floridablanca to others who had less formal contact with the expedition, such as Friar Lasuén from the mission in Monterey, who played host to Malaspina and Bustamante. The documents also demonstrate that the Viceroys of Peru, La Plata and New Spain assisted the expedition throughout, as is apparent from the number of papers from their offices.

Others whose involvement in the expedition is documented by these papers are Luis de Cordoba (Captain General of the Navy), Tagle Isasaga (Comisario de Guerra y Ministro de Real Hacienda y de Marina), José de Mazarredo (Comandante General del Departamento de Cádiz), and the historians Fernandez de Navarrete and Padre Manuel Gil, the last of whom was originally commissioned to compile a history of the expedition.

These papers provide a fascinating insight into numerous facets of this ambitious enterprise. They provide not only valuable details of its scientific and organizational aspects, but also a mass of information on the myriad of matters involved in the execution of the last official Spanish exploring expedition to be planned on the grand scale.

Dates

1789-1795

Creator

Malaspina, Alessandro, 1754-1809 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Biographical note

In 1784 as captain of the Spanish naval vessel Astrea, Alejandro Malaspina circumnavigated the earth, sailing westward. From this earlier experience he conceived the idea of a large scale scientific exploratory enterprise. His plan -- the most elaborate scientific expedition ever attempted in Spanish history -- was submitted to Antonio Valdés, Minister of Marine from 1787 to 1795, with the Indies portfolio to 1790, whose constant effort and enthusiasm were crucial to the success of the venture. Valdés's unstinting support, his ample arrangements, and the free hand he permitted his commanders, all facilitated the proper execution of what has been described as "probably Spain's greatest exploratory contribution to the age of enlightenment".

Accounts of the official expeditions sent out by Britain and France under Cook and La Pérouse fascinated European scientific circles and public alike, and the tragic fate suffered by both commanders served to enhance their fame. The political importance of such undertakings was obvious. The acclaim hailing Cook's accomplishments upon posthumous publication of his journal in 1784 made Madrid realize belatedly the importance of publicizing geographical discoveries. Spain's place in the first rank of European powers demanded that such feats be matched or surpassed. A carefully planned expedition with navigators and scientists of the highest caliber could do much to explore, examine, and knit together Spain's far-flung empire, report on problems and possible reforms, and counter the efforts of rivals to obtain colonial possessions at Spain's expense. It was hoped that the projected effort would result in new discoveries, careful cartographic surveys, important geodesic experiments in gravity and magnetism, botanical collections, and descriptions of each region's geography, mineral resources, commercial possibilities, political status, native peoples, and customs. The plan typified the encyclopedic impulse that was the very quintessence of the Enlightenment. The Malaspina expedition, as it would be called, would coincide with the apogee in territorial expansion of the Spanish Empire.

To begin with both Malaspina and his colleague, José Bustamante y Guerra, were apparently accorded equal status as joint commanders of the venture, but in the event Bustamante assumed the role of subordinate commander, his journal clearly indicating that Malaspina was indeed "chief of the expedition." Two corvettes, the Descubierta and the Atrevida, were especially constructed with a view of the demands of the task ahead. Their crews, each of eighty-six men and sixteen officers, were individually selected for their physical vigor, intelligence and "moral reputation." Among the contingent of scientists were the hydrogapher, Felipe Bauzá, and the natural historian, Antonio Pineda, assisted by the botanists, Tadeo Haencke and Luis Née. As one authority remarks, "A calculated effort to surpass Cook's achievements motivated the careful planning and expense invested in the Malaspina expedition. The ministry hoped to accomplish a number of purposes by the effort, not the least of which was a proportionate measure of recognition for the Spanish navy."

Construction and preparations occupied many months, and the corvettes did not leave Cádiz until July 1789. Extended visits to Trinidad, the Río de la Plata, Chile, Peru and Mexico consumed two full years; the expedition reached the Northwest Coast of America in the summer of 1791, by which time plans to proceed to Hawaii were shelved in favor of heading further north to search for the Maldonado Strait, or Northwest Passage, the location and occupation of which would enable Spain to recapture some of her lost supremacy over the continent. In addition, Malaspina was to investigate the conflict over Spanish and British territorial claims at Nootka Sound. The next stage of the expedition involved sailing to the Philippines, returning via Australia and New Zealand, Chile and Montevideo to reach Cádiz in September 1794.

Malaspina returned from America enthusiastic about making radical changes in Spain's colonial policy and removing all impediments to the development of rich overseas possessions. His recommendations concerning imperial policy were directly opposed to traditional methods -- indeed Malaspina favored abandoning efforts to sustain and expand Spanish dominion in North America by means of acts of possession, garrisons, missions and evangelism. His authority carried great weight in Spanish officialdom and he may be presumed to have influenced ministers such as Valdés and Floridablanca, and possibly the king himself, but his impatience for change led to his involvement in a palace intrigue to depose the prime minister, the powerful royal favorite, Manuel de Godoy, who was seen as the principal obstacle to reform. According to evidence presented at the time, Malaspina was to have assumed both political power as chief of state as well as the personal affections of the queen, María Luisa, who wished to end Godoy's influence over her husband. Arrested in 1795, tried and convicted, Malaspina was imprisoned for eight years and was released on condition that he never set foot in Spain again. He died in his native Italy in 1810, aged fifty-five.

Malaspina's political fate explains why, in Humboldt's words, "this able navigator is more famous for his misfortunes than for his discoveries." His personal papers were seized, the documentation from his expedition for the most part confiscated, and his associates disbanded. The proposed seven-volume official account of the expedition, with seventy maps and seventy plates, which was intended to place its scientific accomplishments on a level surpassing the official publication of the findings of Cook's last voyage, was abandoned. Such papers and drawings as escaped seizure were hidden away by various of the scientists, many of them coming to rest in foreign repositories.

The first extensive printed account of the expedition appeared in 1849 as "Diario del Viage Explorador," a narrative of the expedition by the ensign Francisco Javier de Viana, published in Montevideo by his sons. It was not until 1885 that Malaspina's papers in the archives of the Dirección de Hidrografia were edited and published in Madrid by Don Pedro de Novo y Colson as "Viaje politico-científico alrededor del mundo." Needless to say, neither of these books has the comprehensiveness or ambitious format envisaged for the official account.

Extent

5.5 Cubic Feet (2 legal document cases; 1 slim legal document case; 1 oversize folder)

Language of Materials

Spanish; Castilian

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Documents relating to the voyage of scientific exploration, 1789-1794, conducted by the Italian mariner Alessandro (Alejandro) Malaspina, assisted by José Bustamante y Guerra, and sponsored by the Spanish crown. The expedition included stops in Trinidad, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, points along the coast of North America as far north as Nootka Sound, the Philippine Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. The documents relate to the American portion of the voyage as far as California and include documentation on inland explorations and the gathering of scientific data, including descriptions of conditions among the California missions. Also included are a group of items relating to preparations and supplies. Many documents were sent to or from the office of Spanish naval minister Antonio Valdés y Bazán. Some documents are contemporary copies.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically, although some documents from varying dates are grouped together due to their relationship to each other.

Custodial History

The collection was acquired from Bernard Quaritch, Ltd., London, United Kingdom, who acquired it from a London collector whose father had been a book dealer in Spain.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Bernard Quaritch, Ltd., London, United Kingdom, by the Oregon Historical Society in February 1989.

Related Materials

A related collection of 37 Malaspina expedition documents, which were originally part of the lot offered to the Oregon Historical Society, are held at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, cataloged as BANC MSS 92/82 z.

Bibliography

Warren L. Cook. Flood Tide of Empire: Spain and the Pacific Northwest, 1543-1819. New Haven, 1973.
Donald C. Cutter. Malaspina in California. San Francisco, 1960.
Donald C. Cutter. The Malaspina Expedition. Santa Fe, 1977.
Iris H.W. Engstrand. Spanish Scientists in the New World: The Eighteenth Century Expeditions. Seattle, 1981.

Processing Information

Historical and descriptive text in this guide was written by the firm of Bernard Quaritch, Limited, London. Revisions were made in April 2023 for clarity and to conform to current standard.